Receptacle for flexible bulk-material packing drums as well as filling module for bulk material containing the receptacle

ABSTRACT

A dimensionally stable receptacle for accommodating at least one flexible packing drum in an interior space of the receptacle comprises a bottom, a side wall at least one suction line leading into the interior space, at least one passage device, and at least one feed opening. At least one first docking coupling is located in or adjacent to the feed opening and/or forming the feed opening, for docking a first feeding conduit for bulk material such that, when a flexible packing drums located in the receptacle is coupled to the first docking coupling of the feed opening, the interior space may be sealed, in which a state of vacuum is obtainable through suction in the suction line. The invention further relates to a filling module and method for filling a flexible packing drum with bulk material.

The present invention relates to a receptacle for flexible bulk-materialpacking drums as well as to a filling module for bulk materialcomprising this receptacle. The invention further relates to a methodfor filling flexible packing drums with bulk material as well as to theuse of the inventive receptacle and of the filling module for fillingflexible packing drums with bulk material.

Flexible packing drums, for example sacks or bags, have always been usedfor transporting various kinds of bulk material. Flexible packing drumsare increasingly being used also for such bulk materials whichpreferably are to be transported or stored in an environmentally sealedmanner, e.g. because these bulk materials must not be contaminated withsubstances from the environment or because the bulk materials could beharmful to the environment. This trend is not least to be attributed tothe fact that coupling closure systems and docking devices are nowavailable by means of which such flexible packing drums can be easilyand reliably filled and emptied in an environmentally sealed manner forthe first time. By way of example, we refer to coupling closuresdescribed in the following documents: WO 03/03 7717 A1, WO 2004/103816A1, WO 2005/070776 A1, and WO 2006/053545 A1. It also can be inferredfrom the aforementioned documents that environmentally sealed dockingdevices can be obtained when using two coupling closures that correspondto each other. The advantage of such coupling closures and dockingdevices consists in the fact that neither during the coupling process(when a docking device is formed) nor during the decoupling processthere is any contact between the environment and bulk material that isbeing transferred or, respectively, is to be transferred. Anotheradvantage consists in the fact that it is easy to tightly connect thementioned coupling closures to the material of the flexible packingdrums.

In particular, the ability to ensure an environmentally sealed fillingprocess is of priority importance also in the pharmaceutical sector.This does not only apply to the handling of basic materials andintermediate products, but also to end products that exist in the formof tablets, for example. Regularly, large numbers of finished tabletsare supplied to corresponding transport packing drums via chutes or,respectively, pipelines at a speed that is not low. The abrasioninevitably occurring here results in the formation of dust and couldstrongly contaminate the environment if there were no appropriateprecautions. One of these measures consists in sucking away the airabove the transported tablets.

In the filling systems for bulk material (e.g. tablets) used up to now,complications during the process of filling material into anothercontainer or, respectively, during the filling process can never beprecluded with sufficient reliability. Such complications regularlyrequire interruptions of the filling process in order to be able tosolve the occurred problem manually. These interruptions stronglydisturb a process that is otherwise an essentially fully automatedprocess. In order to be able to avoid complications in a sufficientlyreliable manner and in order to be able to ensure the lowest possiblelevel of contamination at the same time, preference is always given (inparticular in the pharmaceutical sector, but also in the food sector) toconstructions that require a lot of equipment and are thereforeexpensive.

Therefore, the object of the present invention was to provide anapparatus by means of which also flexible packing drums can be filledreliably, essentially without any complications and safely, and withoutan increased risk of contamination. In particular, the object of thepresent invention was to provide such apparatuses by means of whichflexible packing drums can be filled with bulk material without anycontamination and without any complications in an essentially automaticprocess.

According to one aspect, the object of the invention is achieved by adimensionally stable receptacle for accommodating at least one flexiblepacking drum in an interior space with a receptacle bottom, a side wall,an upper part and at least one feed opening, said feed opening beingparticularly located in the upper part, comprising at least one passagedevice for inserting at least one flexible packing drum into theinterior space of the receptacle and for removing said packing drum fromthe interior space of the receptacle, said passage device being capableof being reversibly opened and closed, at least one suction line leadinginto the interior space, at least one first docking coupling, beinglocated in the and/or in the region of the feed opening and/or formingthe feed opening, for docking a first feeding conduct for bulk material,in particular in an environmentally sealed manner, so that, when aflexible packing drum located in the receptacle is directly orindirectly coupled to the first docking coupling and/or the feedopening, an interior space results in which a vacuum (first vacuum) canbe created via the suction line.

One embodiment may provide a receptacle, further comprising at least onesecond feeding conduct located in the interior space of the receptacle,with a first opening end and a second, in particular opposite, openingend, wherein the first opening end is connected to or can be connectedto the feed opening and/or the first docking coupling in anenvironmentally sealed manner, and wherein a first coupling closure islocated at the second opening end, said first coupling closure beingsuitable for coupling to a corresponding second coupling closure of aflexible packing drum in an environmentally sealed manner, wherein anenvironmentally sealed first docking device is formed, said flexiblepacking drum being located in the receptacle.

For example, the first feeding conduct may be directly connected to atablet press and be designed as a chute for the tablets that are to befilled into a flexible packing drum. The dust developing duringtransport or during the production of the tablets may be removed via asuction line that is connected to the first and/or second feedingconduct.

According to a further aspect, the object of the invention is achievedby a dimensionally stable receptacle for accommodating at least oneflexible packing drum in an interior space (in particular a receptacleas described above) with a receptacle bottom, a side wall, an upper partand at least one feed opening, said feed opening being particularlylocated in the upper part, comprising at least one passage device, inparticular a passage closure, for inserting at least one flexiblepacking drum into the interior space of the receptacle and for removingsaid packing drum from the interior space of the receptacle, saidpassage device being capable of being reversibly opened and closed, atleast one suction line leading into the interior space, at least onefirst docking coupling, being located in the and/or in the region of thefeed opening and/or forming the feed opening, for docking a firstfeeding conduct for bulk material, in particular in an environmentallysealed manner, a second feeding conduct located at least in sections inthe interior space of the receptacle, with a first opening end and asecond, opposite opening end, wherein the first opening end is connectedto or can be connected to the feed opening and/or the first dockingcoupling in an environmentally sealed manner, and wherein, inparticular, a first coupling closure is located at the second openingend, said first coupling closure being suitable for coupling to acorresponding second coupling closure of a flexible packing drum in anenvironmentally sealed manner, wherein an environmentally sealed firstdocking device is formed, said flexible packing drum being insertableinto or located in the receptacle, so that, when the second couplingclosure of the flexible packing drum is coupled to the first couplingclosure, an interior space results in which a vacuum (first vacuum) canbe created via the suction line, further comprising at least oneoperating device for closing (closing mode) and opening (loading mode)the first and/or second coupling closure and/or the first dockingdevice, which operating device is located at least in sections in theinterior space and can be operated in particular outside the interiorspace.

The operating device is preferably designed in such a manner that theinlet of a flexible packing drum can be held as well as opened andclosed in the region of the feed opening of the flexible packing drum orin the region of the second opening of the second feeding conduct. In asuitable realisation, these operating devices can be operated fromoutside, so that the inlet of the flexible packing drum can be openedand closed from outside, wherein the receptacle is otherwise closed. Theoperating device is preferably provided in the or adjacent to the feedopening.

For creating a sufficient vacuum in the interior space of thereceptacle, a pump may be connected or connectable to the suction line.It is further possible to install a valve in the suction line or,respectively, in connection with the suction line, for example forimproving the control of the vacuum to be set. Alternatively, the vacuumvia the suction line can be created in that the suction line isconnected or, respectively, may be connected, for example via a bypassconnection, to a dedusting suction line or, respectively, to the pumpused therefor. Also such a line may be equipped with a valve for thefine adjustment of the vacuum that is desired in the interior space.

For using the inventive receptacles, it is regularly sufficient to beable to set a vacuum in the interior space and to be able to maintainsaid vacuum at least for a certain period of time. In one version, forexample, the interior space may be sealed in such a manner that thesuction line is closed after creating a vacuum and the pump does nothave to be used any longer. In a further embodiment, a vacuum in theinterior space can be obtained during the process of filling theflexible packing drum located in the interior space by evacuating theinterior space via the suction line by means of a pump, wherein air iscontinually sucked into the interior space via an aeration valve. It isalso possible to set and to maintain a defined vacuum in the interiorspace by adjusting the suction power of the pump (finely adjusted bymeans of a valve, if necessary) to the intake capacity of the aerationvalve. Suitably, the pressure in the interior space during the fillingprocess is, at least temporarily, in a range of up to 100 mbar,preferably of up to 50 mbar, particularly preferably in a range from 5to 50 mbar, in particular in a range from 5 to 30 mbar, for example in arange from 10 to 20 mbar.

Suitable receptacles are characterized in that the passage device or,respectively, the passage closure (regularly a door or flap) is locatedin the side wall and/or in the receptacle bottom, preferably in the sidewall. In order to be able to maintain a vacuum in the interior space aseasily as possible for a prolonged period of time, seals may beprovided, for example in the passage closure.

In the inventive dimensionally stable receptacle, the interior spacethat is to be evacuated or, respectively, in which a vacuum is to becreated is usually formed by that volume which is not filled by theflexible packing drum that is located in the receptacle and is or can betightly connected to the feed opening.

A wide variety of materials may be used for the dimensionally stablereceptacle, as long as it is ensured that the vacuum created in theinterior space does not result in damages thereto or a substantial orirreversible deformation thereof. The receptacle may be made of metalparts and/or plastic parts, for example. Accordingly, a wide variety ofmaterials may be used for the receptacle bottom, the side wall and theupper part of a receptacle. In a preferred embodiment, it is providedthat the receptacle bottom and/or at least one side wall and/or theupper part is/are at least partially transparent or translucent. Sinceat least some elements of the receptacle are transparent or translucent,the filling process can be easily observed, so that not only the fillingstate, but also possible complications can always be recognizedimmediately.

Particularly preferred receptacles are also such receptacles in whichthe operating device interacts with the passage closure in such a waythat the latter can only be opened when the operating device is in itsclosing mode. In this way it is ensured that bulk material to betransported is at no time, neither during the filling process northereafter, contaminated with substances from the environment. In thisway, the inventive receptacle automatically ensures a very high degreeof operating safety.

In a suitable embodiment, a first docking coupling is provided in theor, respectively, in the region of the feed opening, said first dockingcoupling (for example a tri-clamp connection) serving as a joiningelement for coupling, in particular in an environmentally sealed manner,to the first feeding conduct and/or for coupling to the second feedingconduct. Alternatively, coupling closures (also called third couplingclosures), as described in WO 03/03 7717 A1, WO 2004/103816 A1, WO2005/070776 A1 and WO 2006/053545 A1, may be used. Accordingly, in oneembodiment, the first docking coupling may be designed in such a mannerthat both an environmentally sealed connection to the first feedingconduct located outside the receptacle and an environmentally sealedconnection to the second feeding conduct located within the receptacleare obtained. Naturally, it is also possible to form the first dockingcoupling from combined joining elements, for example from two directlyor indirectly adjacent tri-clamp connections. Therefore, two of suchjoining elements may be provided directly adjacent to each other in apreferred realisation, wherein the first joining element is provided forthe connection, in particular in an environmentally sealed manner, tothe first feeding conduct, whereas the second joining element isprovided for the direct or indirect connection to the inlet of theflexible packing drum.

Here it may also be provided that the second feeding conduct extends asan essentially hose-shaped structure from the feed opening or the firstdocking coupling into the interior space, with a first end in the regionof the feed opening and with an opposite second end, wherein a further,third joining element may be located at the second end, in particular anat least partially flexible coupling closure as a first couplingclosure, said joining element or, respectively, coupling closure beingsuitable for forming and adapted to form an essentially environmentallysealed connection with a flexible packing drum.

An at least partially flexible coupling closure, called first couplingclosure, is preferably used as a third joining element, said firstcoupling closure being suitable for forming and adapted to form anessentially environmentally sealed docking device (in the present casealso called first docking device) with a corresponding coupling closurein the region of the inlet of the flexible packing drum, as described,for example, in WO 03/03 7717 A1, WO 2004/103816 A1, WO 2005/070776 A1and WO 2006/053545 A1.

Accordingly, in one embodiment, suitable coupling closures arecharacterized in that they are elastically deformable at least insections and have a top side that can be essentially tightly and, inparticular, reversibly docked to a top side of a second couplingclosure, wherein said coupling closure is closed in its normal state andcan be reversibly opened by elastic deformation, in particular via atleast one slit, so that a passage from the first to the second side ofthe coupling element exists. By using two of such corresponding couplingclosures, a sealed docking device is obtained in which, for opening andclosing, each coupling closure can be elastically deformed forming atleast a partially overlapping passage gap or slit.

Particularly suitable coupling closures comprise at least one firstclosure band containing at least one cheek body with an inner side, withan outer side, with a top side and/or with a top edge and/or with alower side and/or with a lower edge, said cheek body being elastic atleast in sections, at least one first bearing element at the first endof the cheek body, in particular with a rounded, in particular radial,periphery or periphery section and/or with at least one first space foraccommodating an articulated axle and/or in the form of a first hingeelement, and at least one second bearing element at the second end ofthe cheek body, in particular with a rounded, in particular radial,periphery or periphery section and/or with at least one second space foraccommodating an articulated axle and/or in the form of a second hingeelement, said second end of the cheek body being located opposite thefirst end thereof, at least one second closure band containing at leastone cheek body with an inner side, with an outer side, with a top sideand/or with a top edge and/or with a lower side and/or with a loweredge, said cheek body being elastic at least in sections, at least onefirst bearing element at the first end of the cheek body, in particularwith a rounded, in particular radial, periphery or periphery sectionand/or with at least one space for accommodating an articulated axleand/or in the form of a first hinge element, and with at least onesecond bearing element at the second end of the cheek body, inparticular with a rounded, in particular radial, periphery or peripherysection and/or with at least one space for accommodating an articulatedaxle and/or in the form of a first hinge element, said second end of thecheek body being located opposite the first end thereof;

wherein the inner sides of the cheek bodies of the first closure bandand of the second closure band can be made to fit tightly to each otherin a sealing manner at least in sections, wherein, on the one hand, thefirst bearing element of the first closure band and the second bearingelement of the second closure band can be arranged adjacent to eachother by making, at least in sections, the inner sides of the cheekbodies of the first closure band and of the second closure band fittightly to each other and, on the other hand, the second bearing elementof the first closure band and the first bearing element of the secondclosure band can be arranged adjacent to each other by making, at leastin sections, the inner sides of the cheek bodies of the first closureband and of the second closure band fit tightly to each other, wherein afirst and a second articulated body are formed, in particular comprisingcommon outer surface portions, in particular cylinder surface portions.Particularly preferably, these coupling closures are further providedwith at least one first flectionally elastic and/or extension-elasticelement with opposing first and second ends, said element extendingwithin these first and second ends at least between a first mounting, inparticular at the or adjacent to the first end of the cheek body of thefirst closure band, and a second mounting, in particular at the oradjacent to the second end of the cheek body of the first closure band,and/or with at least one second flectionally elastic and/orextension-elastic element with opposing first and second ends, saidelement extending within these first and second ends at least between afirst mounting, in particular at the or adjacent to the first end of thecheek body of the second closure band, and a second mounting, inparticular at the or adjacent to the second end of the cheek body of thesecond closure band.

The coupling closures and docking devices specified above are, forexample, disclosed in detail in WO 03/03 7717 A1, WO 2004/103816 A1 andWO 2006/053545 A1, which are referred to hereby.

Regularly, suitable inventive receptacles are also equipped with atleast one aeration or, respectively, ventilating device for the interiorspace, for example in the form of a flap, which aeration or,respectively, ventilating device can be reversibly closed. For example,such a device enables the passage device or, respectively, the passageclosure to be opened particularly quickly in order to be able to removea filled packing drum. Furthermore it is possible to interveneparticularly quickly in the event of a complication. In one version, theaeration or, respectively, ventilating device may be designed as anaeration or, respectively, ventilating valve. Naturally, such anaeration or, respectively, ventilating device may also be used forsetting the most favourable vacuum in the interior space of thereceptacle in each case. For example, this aeration or, respectively,ventilating device is also particularly suitable for setting a suitablevacuum in the interior space when the suction line is connected, via abypass connection, to the suction pump of a dedusting chamber or atablet press.

Preferably, suitable receptacles are provided with interior spaces whosedimensions essentially correspond to the dimensions of a flexiblepacking drum to be filled in the receptacle.

A particularly suitable embodiment of an inventive receptacle is furtherprovided with at least one first detector that is suitable fordetermining and arranged to determine the filling level of a flexiblepacking drum in the interior space. Alternatively or additionally, atleast one second detector may further be provided, said second detectorbeing suitable for determining and arranged to determine whether bulkmaterial is accumulating in the first and/or the second feeding conductduring a process of filling a flexible packing drum located in thereceptacle. While the first detector may be particularly provided forcontinuously observing the bulk-material filling level of the flexiblepacking drum, it is regularly sufficient to be able to use the seconddetector for detecting bulk material as soon as the latter isaccumulating in the first and/or the second feeding conduct. If thesecond detector is to serve to determine whether bulk material isaccumulating in the second feeding conduct, it has turned out to beadvantageous to position this second detector in the interior space ofthe receptacle, preferably adjacent to the second feeding conduct, inparticular installed between the first and the second end of the secondfeeding conduct. If the second feeding conduct is located above theinlet of the flexible packing drum, it is at first regularly determinedby means of the second detector that the intake capacity of the flexiblepacking drum has been exceeded under the given filling circumstances. Ifit is determined by means of the second detector that the second feedingconduct is filled, the filling process may be manually stopped by meansof an interaction with a signal transmitter, for example. Alternatively,it is possible to stop the filling process automatically by connectingthe first or the second detector to a control and/or adjustment unit,since only about 90 to 95% of the maximum intake capacity of the packingdrum are regularly reached due to the fact that the flexible packingdrum in the interior space is exposed to a vacuum during the fillingprocess. Then it is regularly sufficient to reduce, after stopping thefilling process, the vacuum in the interior space for a short period oftime (for example a few seconds, for example 5 to 10 seconds) in orderto enable the bulk material accumulated in the first and/or the secondfeeding conduct to sink into the flexible packing drum. In this way, theinlet of the packing drum is generally opened again in order to enableit to be closed afterwards. Moreover, this procedure enables theflexible packing drums to be filled up to the maximum level.

For example, suitable first and second detectors also represent opticalsensors. Such detectors are unknown to a person having the ordinaryskill in the art.

According to a further aspect, the object of the invention is achievedby a filling module for bulk material, comprising at least oneinventive, dimensionally stable receptacle for flexible packing drumsand at least one flexible packing drum containing at least one inletthat is or can be connected to the docking coupling, the feed openingand/or the second feeding conduct. In one embodiment, such a fillingmodule comprises a dimensionally stable receptacle for flexible packingdrums with a receptacle bottom, a side wall and an upper part, saidreceptacle enclosing an interior space in which a vacuum can be created,comprising a passage device, for example a passage closure, forinserting a flexible packing drum into the interior space of thereceptacle and for removing said packing drum from the interior space ofthe receptacle, said passage device being capable of being reversiblyopened and closed, at least one feed opening and at least one suctionline leading into the interior space as well as at least one flexiblepacking drum containing at least one inlet.

The object of the invention is also achieved by such filling modulescomprising the embodiments of inventive receptacles described in detailabove as well as at least one flexible packing drum, in particularbulk-material packing drum, containing at least one inlet.

Thus it may be provided according to a preferred embodiment that theinlet of the flexible packing drum is equipped with a second couplingclosure and that the second end of the second feeding conduct isequipped with a first coupling closure, wherein the first and the secondcoupling closure are or can be connected to each other in anenvironmentally sealed manner forming a first docking device.

The flexible packing drums are preferably based on gastight or,respectively, airtight materials and may be made, for example, ofsynthetic materials, such as polyethylene, polypropylene or polyvinylchloride.

Flexible packing drums that are provided with at least one carrying orholding device (for example in the form of a hole or, respectively,aperture, for example in an edge of the flexible packing drum) arepreferably used for the inventive filling modules, said carrying orholding device being located opposite the inlet. Since the flexiblepacking drums can, for example, be tightly closed by means of the usedcoupling closures after the filling process and, if necessary, be locked(for example by means of a separate locking unit or a locking unitlocated at the coupling closure), the filled packing drums may, forfurther filling processes, be hung on this carrying device or,respectively, transported as practicably as possible.

The inventive receptacles and filling modules are preferably designedand arranged in such a manner that, when a flexible packing drum locatedin the interior space is connected to the feed opening and/or the firstdocking coupling, an evacuatable interior space remains or,respectively, results, so that a vacuum can be created or, respectively,maintained via the suction line. Accordingly, the inventive receptaclesdo not necessarily have to be evacuatable before a flexible packing drumis inserted into the interior space thereof and connected to the feedopening.

In a further development of the inventive filling modules, said fillingmodules are further provided with at least one tablet press that, inparticular, comprises a suction pump, wherein the outlet of the tabletpress is connected to or can be connected to the feed opening via thefirst feeding conduct and/or the third feeding conduct. According toanother further development, such filling modules are also provided,further comprising a dedusting chamber that interacts with the tabletpress and/or the first and/or the third feeding conduct and is suitablefor creating and arranged to create a second vacuum in the first, thesecond and/or the third feeding conduct as well as, if necessary, in theflexible packing drum and is suitable for preferably maintaining andarranged to preferably maintain said second vacuum.

Naturally, receptacles and filling modules in which several of thesereceptacles are integrated in a coherent unit may also be provided.

An inventive filling module may, for example, be provided with two,three, four, five or six inventive receptacles that are provided in aconstructional unit, each of said inventive receptacles being equippedwith a flexible packing drum. In a particularly suitable realisation,such a filling module comprising at least two receptacles may furtherhave at least one diverting device that, for example, in a secondposition closes the first feeding conduct of the second receptacle whileopening the first feeding conduct of the first receptacle.

In a further realisation, an inventive filling module is furtherprovided with a control and/or adjustment unit. Such a control and/oradjustment unit may, for example, be connected to the first and/or thesecond detector and to the tablet press and/or the diverting device and,depending on the detected filling state, switch the tablet press on or,respectively, switch it off and/or cause the diverting device to betoggled from the first to the second position or, respectively, from thesecond to the first position.

The inventive receptacles and filling modules are particularly suitablefor filling flexible packing drums with bulk material. Suitable bulkmaterials may be liquid or solid. The inventive devices are particularlysuitable for filling flexible packing drums with particulate bulkmaterial, in particular tablets.

According to a further aspect, the object of the invention is achievedby a method for filling a flexible packing drum, in particular abulk-material packing drum, with bulk material comprising:

a) providing an inventive receptacle or an inventive filling module,

b) if necessary, providing a flexible packing drum comprising an inlet,in particular equipped with a, particularly at least partially flexible,reversibly closable second coupling closure, unless the packing drum isalready or, respectively, has already been in the interior space,

c) if necessary, inserting the flexible packing drum into the interiorspace of the receptacle or of the filling module, in particular via apassage device, for example a passage closure, unless the packing drumis already or, respectively, has already been in the interior space,

d) if necessary, connecting of the inlet, in particular of the secondcoupling closure, of the flexible packing drum to the feed opening, thefirst docking coupling or to the second feeding conduct in such a waythat the interior space that is not filled by the flexible bag and, asthe case may be, by the second feeding conduct is sealed against thefeed opening and can be exposed to a vacuum, unless this has alreadyhappened,

e) if necessary, closing the passage device or, respectively, thepassage closure, unless the packing drum has already been in theinterior space and the passage device is closed,

f) creating a first vacuum in the interior space via the suction line,

g) filling the flexible packing drum with bulk material via the feedopening,

h) removing the first vacuum in the interior space at least partially,

i) opening the receptacle via the passage device or, respectively, thepassage closure, and

j) removing the filled flexible packing drum.

In a particularly suitable realisation, it may be provided that at leastduring the filling process according to step g), a second vacuum is atleast temporarily set or, respectively, maintained in the flexiblepacking drum via the feed opening and/or the first feeding conduct. In apreferred realisation, during the filling process according to step g),the first vacuum, i.e. the vacuum in the interior space, approximatelyequals the second vacuum at least temporarily.

It is also particularly suitable if the first vacuum is at leasttemporarily lower than the second vacuum by an amount ΔP1 at least priorto filling step g) and/or at the beginning thereof. In this way, bulkmaterial can be prevented from accumulating in the upper region or,respectively, the inlet of the packing drum at the beginning of thefilling process and from not falling down to the bottom of the packingdrum, for example due to its low own weight and/or due to the walls ofthe packing drum adhering to each other. In this way it can be ensuredthat the filling process does not have to be interrupted and that thereceptacle does not have to be opened in order to, for example, manuallycause the bulk material to fall down. According to a further realisationit may be provided that the first vacuum is at least temporarily higherthan the second vacuum by an amount ΔP2 after finishing filling step g).In this way it can be particularly efficiently managed to ensure theoptimal filling of the packing drum with bulk material as well as toprevent bulk material from preventing or affecting the safe andenvironmentally sealed, in particular automatic and/or tool-aided,closing of the packing drum in the region of the inlet. Here it may bepreferably provided that the amount ΔP1 and/or that the amount ΔP2are/is in a range from 20 Pa to 200 Pa, in particular in a range from 30Pa to 100 Pa.

When using the inventive receptacle or, respectively, the inventivefilling module, it can be particularly efficiently managed to preferablycontinuously fill flexible packing drums (for example, made of syntheticmaterials or of other flexible and preferably essentially airtightmaterials) with bulk material without any contamination and without anyrisk of complications. By creating a vacuum in the interior space itbecomes possible to counteract the tendency of such flexible packingdrums towards not opening or insufficiently opening under the own weightof the bulk material to be filled in, caused by a suction pump of adedusting chamber that keeps the filling device dustfree. In this way,particulate bulk material that often carries small dust particles duringtransport can be filled into containers and transported without anycontamination. There is no risk of such dust escaping into theenvironment, neither during the filling process nor during thereplacement of the filled packing drums. Thus, the inventive receptaclesand the inventive filling modules are also particularly suitable forbeing used in the pharmaceutical industry or, respectively, during theproduction and transport of intermediate and end products and theprocess of filling them into containers in the pharmaceutical sector andin the food sector.

The present invention was based on the surprising finding that alsoflexible packing drums are suitable for being filled with, inparticular, sensitive bulk material, above all particulate bulkmaterial, even if the air above the filling unit is sucked away. To thisend, the flexible packing drums are to be inserted into receptacles inwhich a vacuum is created that is preferably also maintained during thefilling process. Since one is no longer dependent on high-grade steelreceptacles for collecting bulk material, such as tablets, the amount ofrejects can be reduced, since the impact of, for example, tablets can bebuffered when using flexible packing drums.

Further advantages, features and applications of the present inventioncan be inferred from the following description of preferred exemplaryembodiments in conjunction with the attached drawings in which

FIG. 1 shows a schematic sectional side view of an inventive fillingmodule,

FIG. 2 shows a schematic sectional side view of the filling moduleaccording to FIG. 1, turned around its longitudinal axis by 90°,

FIG. 3 shows a schematic sectional side view of a further embodiment ofan inventive filling module, and

FIG. 4 shows a schematic sectional side view of a further embodiment ofan inventive filling module.

FIG. 1 shows an inventive filling module 100 comprising, in theembodiment shown, an inventive dimensionally stable receptacle 1 and aflexible packing drum 2. The inventive dimensionally stable receptacle 1has an upper part 4, a side wall 6 and a receptacle bottom 8. In theembodiment shown, a feed opening 9 is located in the upper part 4 in acentred position. As shown in FIG. 1, a first docking coupling 10, forexample in the form of a tri-clamp connection, may be located in thefeed opening 9, to which first docking coupling 10 a first feedingconduct (see FIG. 4) can be docked or, respectively, coupled, inparticular in an environmentally sealed manner, for the purpose offilling bulk material into the flexible packing drum 2. In theembodiment shown, the first docking coupling 10 is connected to theinlet 12 of the packing drum 2 via the second feeding conduct 14 in theform of a hose element. While the first end of the hose element 14 isconnected to the first docking coupling 10, for example via a tri-clampconnection, the opposite second end 18 of the hose element 14 may have afirst coupling closure 20. This coupling closure 20 is arranged andadapted to form an environmentally sealed first docking device 24 with acorresponding second coupling closure 22 located in the region of theinlet 12 of the flexible packing drum 2. For example, the systemsdisclosed in WO 03/03 7717 A1, WO 2004/103816 A1, WO 2005/070776 A1 andWO 2006/053545 A1 may be used for such coupling closures and dockingdevices. Suitable coupling closures can keep the inlet 12 or,respectively, the second end 18 of the hose element 14 in a closedstate, both in the coupled mode and in the non-coupled mode.

As shown in FIG. 1, the dimensions of the flexible packing drum 2 may beadjusted to the dimensions of the interior space 26 of the receptacle 1.In the embodiment shown, the packing drum 2 is provided with an edge or,respectively, a band 27 on the lower side, said band 27 being providedwith two carrying apertures 29. These apertures 29 enable the filledpacking drum 2 to be transported in a practicable manner, said filledpacking drum 2 being closed via the second coupling closure. By mountingthe coupling element 10 flush with the feed opening 8 and connecting thecoupling closures 20 and 22 of the hose element 14 and of the packingdrum 2 thus forming a first docking device 24, an essentially sealedinterior space 26 is obtained in which a vacuum can be created via thesuction line 28. To this end, a pump 30, for example, may be connectedto the suction line 28. A valve 32 may be used for closing and/or forthe fine adjustment of the vacuum in the suction line 28.

The receptacle 1 further has an operating device 34 by means of whichthe first docking device 24 can be opened and closed. If each of thecoupling closures 20 and 22 forming the docking device 24 is, forexample, formed by two flexible bands that fit tightly to each other (asit is the case, for example, in the coupling closures disclosed in WO2004/103816 A1 and WO 2006/053545), a passage aperture can be formed atthe docking device by moving the locking arms 36 and 38 of the holdingdevice 34 towards each other, through which passage aperture bulkmaterial gets into the packing drum 2. When the filling process iscompleted, the locking arms can be moved back, whereby the dockingdevice 24 is closed. To this end, the lever arrangement 40 shown in FIG.1 may be used, for example. The lever arrangement 40 can be operatedmanually.

FIG. 2 shows the filling module 100 according to FIG. 1, turned aroundits longitudinal axis by 90°, also as a schematic sectional view. In theembodiment shown, the receptacle bottom 8 and the upper part 4 aretransparent. This makes it possible to continuously monitor the fillingprocess. Naturally, parts of the side wall 6 may also be transparent.FIG. 2 further shows a passage device or, respectively, a passageclosure 38 in the form of a door. This door of the receptacle 1essentially covers the entire surface of the side wall 34 of thereceptacle 1 longitudinally. The door 38 is opened by means of thehandle 40, which, in the embodiment shown, is only possible if the firstdocking device 34 or, respectively, the first and the second couplingclosure 20 and 22 is or, respectively, are in the closed state.Furthermore, an aeration device 42, for example in the form of anaeration flap 42, is located in the passage closure 38. This aerationflap may, for example, be used for the speedy aeration of the evacuatedinterior space 26, in particular for speeding up the removal of thefilled packing drum 2. Naturally, the aeration device may also bearranged in a different place of the receptacle.

FIG. 3 shows a further realisation of an inventive filling module 100 inwhich two inventive receptacles 1 and 1′ are combined with each otherand provided with a common side wall 44. The version of an inventivefilling module 100 shown in FIG. 3 makes a continuous filling processpossible. When the filling of the flexible packing drum 2 in thereceptacle 1 is completed, the diverting device 48 is toggled in thefirst feeding conduct 46, whereby the feeding-conduct section 50 leadingto the first receptacle 1 is closed and, at the same time, thefeeding-conduct section 52 leading to the second receptacle 1′ isopened. During the filling of the flexible packing drum 2′, the filledpacking drum 2 can be removed from the receptacle 1 and replaced by anempty packing drum. Since it is possible to carry out this processeasily and quickly, not least because of the coupling closures 20 and 22and the docking devices 24 used (described above), it is often notnecessary to switch off or throttle the pump that creates the vacuum(not shown), but it is sufficient to temporarily remove the vacuum viathe aeration flap 42 in order to enable the receptacle 1 to be openedvia the passage closure 38. Naturally, it is also possible to combinemore than two receptacles 1 and 1′ with each other in one inventivefilling module 100; three, four or more combined receptacles may belocated in one filling module and be filled via one, two or more feedingconducts, for example.

In the embodiment of an inventive filling module 100 shown, each of thereceptacles 1 and 1′ is equipped with a second detector 54 or,respectively, 54′ in the respective interior spaces 26 and 26′. Theinner sides of each of these second detectors are mounted, level withthe second feeding conducts 14 and 14′, on the dividing wall 44. Thesesecond detectors that may be optical sensors, for example, detect thefilling state of the second feeding conducts 14 or, respectively, 14′and may interact with a signal transmitter (not shown) and/or with acontrol and/or adjustment unit (not shown), which may interact with thediverting device 48. For example, if the detector 54 detects that bulkmaterial is accumulating in the second feeding conduct 14, a signal maybe transmitted to the control and/or adjustment unit, so that thediverting device 48 can be caused (for example, via an electric motor(not shown)) to close the feeding section 50 while opening the feedingsection 52, so that the packing drum 2′ in the receptacle 1′ will befilled. During this filling process, the vacuum in the receptacle 1 canbe reduced or removed (for example, via the aeration device 42) and thefilled packing drum 2 (in the closed state) be removed and replaced byan empty packing drum.

Apparently, the inventive filling module exhibits a very high degree ofoperating facility and operating safety, because also hazardous bulkmaterial can be filled into containers and transported in anenvironmentally sealed manner without the need to use, for example,high-grade steel receptacles.

FIG. 4 shows a further development of the inventive filling module 100.In addition to the features of the filling module 100 described in FIG.1, the version shown in FIG. 4 is provided with a first feeding conduct56 whose one end is connected, in an environmentally sealed manner, tothe first docking coupling 10 in the region of the feed opening 9 of thereceptacle 1 and whose other end is connected to the outlet of aschematically indicated tablet press 58. The tablets ejected by thetablet press therefore get into the flexible packing drum 2 via thefirst feeding conduct 56 and the second feeding conduct 14. The abradedparticles of the transported tablets as well as other particulatecomponents escaping from the tablet press 58 are separated by means of adedusting chamber 58. The dedusting chamber 58 comprises a suction pump60 as well as a connecting conduit 62 (third feeding conduct) that leadsto the first feeding conduct 56. The suction pump 60 creates a vacuum inthe sealed system that is essentially formed by the first feedingconduct, the second feeding conduct and the flexible packing drum. Inparticular, when the packing drum 2 is still empty, this vacuumregularly results in the inner sides of the packing drum 2 adhering toeach other and in bulk material being unable to fall down to the bottomof the packing drum, but getting stuck in the region of the inletalready. By creating a vacuum in the interior space 26 via the suctionline 28 and the pump 30, the process of filling the flexible packingdrum 2, in particular also at the beginning thereof, can be considerablyimproved and carried out with fewer complications.

The features of the invention disclosed in the preceding description, inthe claims as well as in the drawings may be essential, bothindividually and in any combination, for the realisation of theinvention in its various embodiments.

1. A dimensionally stable receptacle for accommodating at least oneflexible packing drum in an interior space of the receptacle, thereceptacle comprising: a bottom; a side wall connected to the bottom andextending around the interior space of the receptacle; at least onesuction line leading into the interior space of the receptacle; at leastone passage device for inserting at least one flexible packing drum intothe interior space of the receptacle and for removing the packing drumfrom the interior space of the receptacle, said passage device beingcapable of being reversibly opened and closed; at least one feedopening, comprising at least one first docking coupling, located in oradjacent to the feed opening and/or forming the feed opening, the firstdocking coupling configured for docking a first feeding conduit for bulkmaterial, such that, when a flexible packing drum located in thereceptacle is coupled to the first docking coupling of the feed opening,the interior space of the receptacle is sealed, in which a state ofvacuum in the interior space is obtainable through suction in thesuction line.
 2. The receptacle according to claim 1, furthercomprising: at least one second feeding conduit located at least insections in the interior space of the receptacle, having a first openingend and a second, opening end, wherein the first opening end isconnectable to the feed opening and/or the first docking coupling in asealed manner, and wherein, a first coupling closure is located at thesecond opening end, said first coupling closure being suitable forcoupling to a corresponding second coupling closure of a flexiblepacking drum in a sealed manner, such that a sealed first docking deviceis formed, said flexible packing drum being insertable into thereceptacle.
 3. The receptacle according to claim 2, wherein the at leastone passage device, includes a passage closure for inserting at leastone flexible packing drum into the interior space of the receptacle andfor removing said packing drum from the interior space of thereceptacle, wherein when the second coupling closure of the flexiblepacking drum is coupled to the first coupling closure, the interiorspace of the receptacle is sealed, in which a state of vacuum in theinterior space is obtainable through suction in the suction line, andwherein the receptacle further comprises at least one operating devicefor closing, in a closing mode, and opening, in a loading mode, thefirst coupling closure, the second coupling closure, and/or the firstdocking device, wherein the operating device is located at least insections in the interior space and is operable outside the interiorspace.
 4. The receptacle according to claim 1, wherein the first feedingconduit for bulk material is configured for connecting to the firstdocking coupling and/or the feed opening in a sealed manner, and furthersuitable for filling a flexible packing drum with bulk material, saidflexible packing drum being insertable into said receptacle.
 5. Thereceptacle according to claim 1, further comprising a pump connected tothe suction line, and at least one valve interacting with the suctionline.
 6. The receptacle according to claim 3, wherein at least one ofthe passage device and the passage closure is located in at least one ofthe side wall and the receptacle bottom.
 7. The receptacle according toclaim 1, wherein at least one of the receptacle bottom the side wall,and an upper part is at least partially transparent or translucent. 8.The receptacle according to claim 3, wherein at least one of the passagedevice and the passage closure represents a vacuum-tight closable dooror flap.
 9. Receptacle according to claim 3, wherein the operatingdevice interacts with at least one of the passage device and the passageclosure in such a way that the passage device or the passage closure isopenable when the operating device is in the closing mode.
 10. Thereceptacle according to claim 1, wherein the first docking couplingcomprises at least one of a tri-clamp connection and a third couplingclosure.
 11. The receptacle according to claim 1, further comprising atleast one of an aeration and ventilating device for the interior space,wherein the aeration or ventilating device is capable of beingreversibly closed.
 12. The receptacle according to claim 1, wherein thedimensions of the interior space correspond to the dimensions of aflexible packing drum to be filled in the receptacle.
 13. The receptacleaccording to claim 2, further comprising at least one first detectorthat is suitable for determining the filling level of a flexible packingdrum in the interior space of the receptacle.
 14. The receptacleaccording to claim 13, further comprising at least one second detectorthat is suitable for determining whether bulk material is accumulatingin the second and/or the first feeding conduit during a process offilling a flexible packing drum located in the receptacle.
 15. Thereceptacle according to claim 14, wherein at least one of the firstdetector and the second detector is located adjacent to the firstfeeding conduit and/or the second feeding conduit.
 16. The receptacleaccording to claim 14, wherein at least one of the first detector andthe second detector is arranged in the interior space in such a mannerthat allows for determining whether bulk material is accumulating in thesecond feeding conduit.
 17. The receptacle according to claim 14,wherein at least one of the first and the second detector is an opticaldetector.
 18. A filling module for bulk material, comprising at leastone dimensionally stable receptacle for at least one flexible packingdrum according to claim 2, and at least one flexible packing drumcontaining at least one inlet that is connectable to the first dockingcoupling, the feed opening, and/or the second feeding conduit.
 19. Thefilling module according to claim 18, wherein the inlet of the flexiblepacking drum is equipped with a second coupling closure and the secondopening end of the second feeding conduit is equipped with a firstcoupling closure, wherein the first coupling closure and the secondcoupling closure are connectable to each other in a sealed manner,forming the first docking device.
 20. The filling module according toclaim 18, wherein the flexible packing drum is constructed ofessentially airtight material and is made of a synthetic material. 21.The filling module according to claim 18, wherein the flexible packingdrum has at least one holding device, comprising a holding aperture,said holding device being located opposite the inlet.
 22. The fillingmodule according to claim 18, further comprising at least one tabletpress that includes a suction pump, wherein an outlet of the tabletpress is connected to the feed opening via the first feeding conduitand/or a third feeding conduit, and wherein the suction pump isconfigured to create a state of vacuum in the first, the second, and/orthe third feeding conduit as well as, in the flexible packing drum andis configured to maintain said state of vacuum.
 23. The filling moduleaccording to claim 22, further comprising a dedusting chamber thatcomprises the suction pump and interacts with the tablet press and thefirst and/or the third feeding conduit for creating the state of vacuumin the first, the second, and/or the third feeding conduit as well as inthe flexible packing drum and for maintaining said state of vacuum. 24.The filling module according to claim 22, further comprising at leasttwo receptacles according to claim 4 as well as at least one divertingdevice that, in a first position, closes the first feeding conduit of afirst receptacle while opening the first feeding conduit of a secondreceptacle and that, in a second position, closes the first feedingconduit of the second receptacle while opening the first feeding conduitof the first receptacle.
 25. The filling module according to claim 24,further comprising a first detector and a second detector according toclaim 14, and further comprising a control or adjustment unit thatinteracts with the first detector, the second detector, the tabletpress, and the diverting device and, depending on the detected fillingstate, switches the tablet press on or off and causes the divertingdevice to be toggled from the first to the second position or,respectively, from the second to the first position.
 26. The fillingmodule according to claim 18, wherein the flexible packing drum isfilled with bulk material in a form of tablets.
 27. A method for fillinga flexible packing drum, with bulk material, comprising: (a) providing areceptacle according to claim 2, (b) providing a flexible packing drumcomprising an inlet equipped with at least a partially flexible,reversibly closable second coupling closure, (c) inserting the flexiblepacking drum into the interior space of the receptacle via the passagedevice, (d) connecting the second coupling closure of the flexiblepacking drum to at least one of the feed opening, the first dockingcoupling, and the second feeding conduit in such a way that the interiorspace that is not filled by the flexible packing drum and by the secondfeeding conduit is sealed against the feed opening and is exposable to astate of vacuum, (e) closing the passage device (f) creating a firstvacuum pressure in the interior space via the suction line, (g) fillingthe flexible packing drum with bulk material via the feed opening, (h)removing the first vacuum pressure from the interior space, (i) openingthe receptacle via the passage device, and (j) removing the filledflexible packing drum.
 28. The method according to claim 27, whereinduring the filling process according to step g), a second vacuumpressure is set in the flexible packing drum via the feed opening andthe first feeding conduit.
 29. The method according to claim 28, whereinduring the filling process according to step g), the first vacuumpressure approximately equals the second vacuum pressure.
 30. The methodaccording to claim 28, wherein the first vacuum pressure is lower thanthe second vacuum pressure by an amount ΔP1 prior to filling step (g)and at the beginning thereof.
 31. The method according to claim 28,wherein the first vacuum pressure is higher than the second vacuumpressure by an amount ΔP2 after finishing filling step (g).
 32. Themethod according to claim 31, wherein the amount ΔP1 and the amount ΔP2are in a range from 20 Pa to 200 Pa.